The least shall be first and the first shall be last

By Stella Lohmann

December 15, 2009

Which is stranger? To see the world-famous Tiger Woods admitting to a hidden lifestyle of adultery or witnessing Susan Boyle’s swan like transformation to international acclaim? Reminders of ageless stories of rags to riches or a fall from grace come to mind: one inspires; the other shatters. Susan sang “I Dreamed A Dream” and Tiger sunk his. His began at age five and hers at age 47.

Woods, undoubtedly the world’s wealthiest athlete, acquiring almost 1 billion dollars in life time earnings, won’t see that ten digit figure fully materialized at least for the near future. Damage control and a return to sanity from the media frenzy of the past two weeks are calling for drastic measures. His announcement Friday that he would take an indefinite leave from golf in order to deal with his personal life has given sponsors an open to show Tiger for the time being at least. Accenture, the world’s largest consultant agency, has announced it will give Tiger that time he says he needs from his endorsement obligations.

Susan Boyle on the other hand is living her Cinderella Dream. No skeletons in the closet after captivating the world with an extraordinarily unexpected brilliant performance on Britain’s Got Talent. She ends 2009 with a million dollar debut album and an international special on the TV Guide Channel singing a duet with her idol, Elaine Page.

What lessons do we derive from both icons stories? Quips of here today, gone tomorrow don’t fit rightly. The American people are overwhelming forgiving. If they can excuse former Atlanta Falcon quarterback Michael Vick for his animal abuse convictions and this week welcome him back to the Georgia Dome now wearing a Philadelphia Eagle uniform, well, Tiger can expect even more from a leave of absence paid for in full via his years of good will sown into the sport of golf.

The shocking reality is Tiger lived a double life and the public bought the marketing version. Why? Because it sells and it felt good to see a wholesome youth rise to manhood with a seemingly seamless personality, void of any dark traits. On the other hand, most expected Susan Boyle to be one of those bloopers airing on television reality shows. She didn’t look like a star, act like a star, but did she sing like a star!

Heading into 2010:

Susan is a multi million dollar singing sensation having met her childhood idol, Donny Osmond, as a bonus of her new found fame.

Simon is without Paula Abdul on American Idol this upcoming season but is incredibly busy managing Susan’s meteoric success making up for decades of dreaming her dream.

And Tiger may be learning to do what “Tiggers do best!”—bounce.

Photos by Stella Lohmann of Nov. 2, Atl Tea Party featured on Glenn Beck 9/12 site

  By Stella Lohmann

November 7, 2009—Washington, D.C. 

At 11:07 PM EST Saturday night, the highly debated and emotionally charged HR 3962 Omnibus Health Care Reform Act passed the House along party lines 220 to 215. Republican Party Chairman, Michael Steele, told Geraldo Rivera of Fox News, “Listen to those Democrats applauding their way right out of office next year.” 

The late night vote follows days of protests outside the nation’s Capital by protestors of the estimated 1.2 trillion dollar health care reform bill and a slew of rallies, town hall meetings, and bus rides by Americans fearing that the Omnibus bill is actually a move toward socialism and loss of freedom overall. A call by Representative Michele Bachmann (R-MN) on Sean Hannity’s television show drew tens of thousands to Washington and to the steps of the Capital within six days.

Mark Levin, author of "Tyranny or Liberty"

 Amazingly, many of the reported 1.5 million who had travelled from across the country to the 9/12 Protest March less than two months earlier were back ready to make a ‘house call’ on Congress members before they voted on a two thousand page health care reform bill this weekend. Georgians mobilized through word of mouth, Facebook, and the One Year to Judgment Day Atlanta Tea Party announcing details of buses being filled and possible opportunities of car pooling. Congressman Phil Gingrey offered to pay the way for Brian Donnegan, founder of Can Do Conservatives of America  after meeting him at the Monday night event at the state capitol. Donnegan is legally blind and wanted to join those departing for the Capital to rally behind Bachmann’s call to protest the bill:

 ”I sat on the right ledge of the Capital behind the press corps. I did not have a sign with me but I held my cane up as if it were a sign many times. I am glad to have been there to be a voice for the disabled because we almost didn’t have one on the stage on Thursday. Thanks to Chris Smith, who was the only speaker to mention the disabled and that will we be adversely affected by Pelosi’s bill. I’ve come a long way in my fight but I still have a long way to go.” 

Dozens of Congress members joined their colleague from Wisconsin on the platform while key note speakers energized an already emotionally charged crowd. Academy award winning actor, John Voight, and bestselling author and talk radio host, Mark Levin challenged Americans to choose between tyranny or liberty much like coaches inspiring a football team before an anticipated rivalry. “See that building right there. You own that building!” (pointing to the Capital building in the background). Not surprising that enthusiasm translated to the mass visitations inside and outside of the Capital. 

 A 78 year old priest was carried from the doorway of Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi’s office days ago in protest of believed provisions concerning abortion. Father Norman Weslin and 11 other pro-lifers were arrested at Nancy Pelosi’s office at #235 Cannon office building. The YouTube video was posted by pro life activist Randall Terry who is no stranger to civil protest and disobedience leading to arrests. However, today the majority of those lining the Canon building hallway were making a House call on the Speaker and other members of Congress to protest a perceived overhaul of the nation’s health care system. 

To complicate matters, supporters of the health care reform bill, some dressed in medical garb, chanted “Health care for all!”  to which opponents countered, “Kill the Bill!” The back and forth chanting continued sporadically while most stood quietly in lines to the doorway–others wandered in and out of Pelosi’s office ripping strips of papers from a copy of the healthcare bill—the idea suggested at the rally. Capital Police scurried back and forth talking to one another trying to calm the growing chants as well as they monitored activities. Several were escorted away by Capital Police while others stood along the walls waiting to enter Pelosi’s office, cameras in hand while media rolling tape. Soon the hallway was cleared. 

Outside other protesters waited for Congress members leaving the Capital building in route to their offices across the street. Texas Representative, Ron Paul said, “This is great!” as he engaged with handshakes and picture taking opportunities by those congregated. When (D-CA) Maxine Waters exited the Capital the reception was far less friendly. One woman lunged at her screaming her disgust with the legislation and shouting questions about her support of the bill. Her physical behavior toward the Congresswoman drew the attention of Capital Police.

That’s when another said, “Leave her alone” in an attempt to ward off a possible arrest and subsequent headline in the news labeling all the activists as angry, militant right wingers. Another lady misinterpreted the intervention and began taping what was said. She said later she thought the person worked for Waters and apologized for being confrontational.

Outside the Cannon building, (D-NY) Scott Murphy ventured into the crowd for more than an hour listening to others scream, talk, and watch him move through the crowd. Again, a handful of protesters shook fingers toward him, yelled and interrupted his comments. In reality Murphy’s smirks didn’t help to quiet their emotions or concerns about his expected yes vote on the healthcare bill.  

Just before midnight Murphy voted along party lines adding his vote to the slim margin of passage in favor of HR 3962 bill. For the Democrats and President Barack Obama its passage is a victory. For those who sacrificed to actively voice their opposition it is also a victory–Americans are speaking out holding elected officials accountable in a big way. The passage of HR3962 by the House does not end the continuing saga of controlling costs and providing healthcare for Americans. The Senate still has to give its approval. So Tea Party activists will have plenty more opportunities to visit the Capital as Congress continues to confront other polarizing issues such as energy, immigration, and the failing economy riddled by devastating job losses.

Brian Donegan raises his cane for handicapped Americans at rally.

By Stella Lohmann

ALERT: Swine Flu Vaccine Makers Refuse  

October 24, 2009—Atlanta, GA

According to Fox News, President Barack Obama signed the declaration late Friday night, which allows medical treatment facilities to better handle a surge in flu patients by waiving federal requirements on a case-by-case basis. The Center for Diseases Control reports that a thousand have died from the virus and 20,000 hospitalizations.

“The foundation of our national approach to the H1N1 flu has been preparedness at all levels — personal, business, and government — and this proclamation helps that effort by advancing our overall response capability,” the White House said in a statement.” [Read more →]

By Stella Lohmann  You Tube video 9/12 Protest March as told in photos by Stella Lohmann 

9/12 Protest March numbers and impact can’t be dumb-downed       

September 14, 2009–Washington, D.C.– For every person that onverged in Washington for the 9/12 Protest March on DC Saturday, there were many more who attended local events around the nation. Those numbers ARE in the millions of those who answered the call (originally by Fox News host Glenn Beck just months ago). Not everyone came because they are a fan of Beck; most said they just had to be there! 

No media network or paper can dumb-down projections of how many actually came much less the march’s impact on the American psyche. I was there. I rode a bus ten hours both ways from Atlanta with fellow concerned citizens—I wanted to experience it for myself as reporter and as a citizen. Bless those on the west coast and even Alaska and Hawaii who sacrificed so much to be apart of an enormous march that evolved in a just matter of months! Kudos to Fox News and Glenn Beck for setting up a website for grassroots coordinators to communicate and organize the thousands wanting to take their concerns to Washington!

Beck didn’t make an appearance to say, “In your face, naysayers!” Rather he reported back in his New York City studio while those who organized the event executed their own plans with their own speakers according to their own schedules. Travelling home to Georgia, one lady read from her blackberry an article “9/12 March had no leaders”, as if exposing weaknesses in the movement and the protest itself. Thank you whomever you are for giving a few enthusiastic ladies on the bus something more to talk about while some of us wanted to sleep during the night!  

Imagine how silly minimizing the attendance sounded to those who experienced the enormity of the crowd for themselves–those of us who heard motorists across states honk horns or talk with us at rest and truck stops along the way. Imagine how out of touch negative headlines were when we stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Americans from all 50 states down Pennsylvania Avenue to the Capitol. Imagine how ludicrous their analysis when buses were being turned away because there was no more room! Imagine when the crowd dispersed leaving no trash unlike the Inauguration covered like a landfill!

Those who came want self accountability, pride in our history as a defender of democracy and treasure what we have because of it—a free America, a free republic, one nation under God framed by the Constitution yet today. Being good stewards is what the 9/12 Protest March was all about. Amy Kremer, one of the national organizers says it’s about teamwork, no one person being more important than the others–all of us doing what needs to be done to stop the ‘madness’ in Washington.

September 11th Patriot's Day

You Tube video: Fmr. NYPD Commissioner B. Kerik interview w/Stella Lohmann–the courage, the losses, & heroism! 

Bernard Kerik’s courage under fire on 9/11 and today                                       By Stella Lohmann Interview July 2009, New York, NY

September 6, 2009—Atlanta, GA

Eight years haven’t erased horrific images and gut wrenching emotions of September 11, 2001—the day the world stood still—the day 343 New York firemen, 23 NYPD and 37 Port Authority officers perished as they attempted to do their jobs—protect the people of New York City. As the world watched live broadcasts of two jetliners careening into the Twin Towers, more than 2300 civilians, women, men and children would be trapped and incinerated along with those who used two aircrafts as weapons of mass destruction.

Eight years later, September 11^th is nationally observed as Patriot’s Day, in honor of the fallen: civilians on Flight 93 who overpowered their hijackers and died saving the White House from a possible attack, government workers at their desks as a third jet slammed into the Pentagon and the thousands of innocent civilians martyred in NYC as America went to war unexpectedly. 

An estimated number of New Yorkers suffering from post-traumatic-stress disorder as a result of 9/11: 422,000! September 11^th in Numbers  No one person witnessed the pain, managed the efforts, and lived the aftermath of 9/11 like Former NYPD Commissioner Bernard Kerik–his life forever changed as he stood side by side advising Mayor Rudy Giuliani and President Bush in the days and months that followed–strategizing the next move and contemplating what else could happen. It was the worst attack on the US mainland. Pearl Harbor awoke a Sleeping Giant after Japanese fighters dropped bombs annihilating ships while crews slept on a cool December 7^th, in 1941. 9/11 awoke America to a world threatened by terrorists.

Kerik agreed graciously to relive those events etched forever in his memory as we drove through the Big Apple. His memories are thick with details of people jumping out of windows to their death, firemen and police officers running up the Twin Towers packing heavy equipment, and the massive evacuations of a city within hours of the attacks. It was a day that never ended. Kerik says it was just the beginning of 16 to 20 hour days weeks on end and thousands of decisions and plans never contemplated before in American history. Amazingly he, like Mayor Giuliani, attended hundreds of funerals for friends, for colleagues, and for those who died just because there went to work that day.

Kerik recalled Father Judge, the NYFD chaplain, making the sign of the cross over him and Mayor Giuliani then saying, “Be safe”, as the two made their way to a command center from the bottom of Tower II. Forty minutes later, Tower II would implode as the Father and others ran into the burning inferno to save others.

“Imagine you wake up one day and every best friend you have ever had is gone,” reflected Kerik. Indeed, imagine. There were no indications that America would be under attack when the sun rose that September morning. There were no blue prints to follow or others to ask what to do. Kerik just responded. The native New Jersey boy grew up in foster homes and later joined the City’s finest only to catapult from undercover detective to Commissioner of the nation’s largest city.

Shortly after 9/11 the United States retaliated with Operation Iraqi Freedom and Kerik was appointed by President George W. Bush as Interim Deputy of Interior in Iraq. Again Kerik used his bullish-no-nonsense approach to law and order and established a civilian force to maintain the peace in a newly emerging democracy. Kerik managed to lead at home and abroad training others including the troops on how to keep America safe.

Eight years later Kerik is battling charges filed against him the day after he turned down an appointment by President Bush as America’s first Homeland Security Director. Kerik withdrew his name in order not to draw the President into legal battles alleging tax evasion, conspiracy, and lying under oath. Next month, Kerik will stand before a Judge to answer these charges that have been dropped several times only to be filed again under different jurisdictions. The outcome could vindicate or him next month. Bernard Kerik: The Trial of an American Hero

Neither can take away from his career of faithful service in law enforcement particularly through this nation’s darkest hour in recent history. Bernard Kerik has served his country abroad training American troops toward an emerging democracy in the Middle East. Bernard Kerik has endured incredible pressures for the sake of his fellow Americans. On this September 11^th Kerik perhaps should be at the top of the list of living 9/11 heroes honored for Patriot’s Day by a grateful nation.

Elem. School Theorist & Convicted Bomber Bill Ayers

By Stella Lohmann    September 3, 2009—Atlanta, GA http://www.stellalohmann.com 

Since when does the Department of Education dictate curriculum, especially one promoting its boss? Next Tuesday class schedules and lesson plans will be usurped by a Presidential speech given by Barack Obama via the internet. Educators nationwide have already been given exercises to administer before and after his address. So what’s the uproar all about? President George H. Bush and even Ronald Reagan gave similar talks to schools about staying in school and staying away from drugs. But Obama’s timing and questionable associations have been known to reappear at the White House as advisors.  

University of Illinois at Chicago Professor Bill Ayers–elementary school theorist and unrepentant convicted domestic terrorist for public bombings including the Capitol and Pentagon–is certainly one that Obama said time and time again was just an acquaintance who just happened to host his campaign kick off at his home in Chicago as well as chair an education reform council on which Obama was a member. Obama never disavowed their relationship and shared visions for changing wrongs in social issues. Listen to this excerpt from “No Place to Hide”, a 1980’s documentary on the Ayers and the Worldwide Underground of which he belonged. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWMIwziGrAQ

Even then Ayers’ radical views were being scrutinized with warnings of a clearly defined agenda and mission statement to eliminate capitalism and reinstitute social reform through revolution in the classroom. On Saturday, October 04, 2008 National Review analyzed the article published in the New York Times “Ayers-Obama Whitewash”. Four days later, the New York Times printed another article, one less than flattering about then GOP Presidential candidate Senator John McCain:

Mr. McCain responded: “Well, sir, with your help and the people in this room, we will find out, just as Senator Clinton said in the primary that we should find out about this association. Look, we don’t care about an old washed-up terrorist and his wife who still, at least on Sept. 11, 2001, said he still wanted to bomb more. You know, but that’s not the point here. The point is Senator Obama said he was just a guy in the neighborhood. We need to know that’s not true.’’ [Read more →]

by Stella Lohmann http://www.stellalohmann.com

Atlanta Health Care Town Hall draws thousands

 August 16, 2009—Atlanta, GA The media went crazy when former Alaskan Governor Sarah Palin called end-of-life counseling provisions ‘death boards’ but then behold, the item has been reportedly removed from HR 3200. Then pro life advocates challenged federally funded abortions through vague language like ‘health care procedures’, and oh, so surprisingly, liberals assured to the contrary and poof! Fed dollars won’t touch an abortion. After weeks of virtual reality reports via UTUBE  at town halls during Congressional summer recess, and citizens being disparaged for being outraged, the President has shifted yet again to familiar territory—the damage control campaign trail–New Hampshire, to Colorado and then Arizona all in one week!

Barack Obama, the great communicator, is back no doubt spinning and answering simple questions with hundreds of colorfully unrelated words. Is it working? Oddly, poll results are still dipping unfavorably when asked about his personal leadership as well as both House and Senate proposals. Has he lost his touch or is he just out of touch with the will of the public?  Could it be the America people have found its messengers on UTUBE TV? You know, those continually asking direct questions about HR 3200 specifics to wit the President eloquently doesn’t answer? No one has quieted the other…yet.

Enter Plan B.

The Commander-in-Chief of diversion knows he hasn’t moved independents that shifted from his side of middle to conservative thinking. Clearly the mainstream media is doing all it can with it pitiful ratings against conservative cable but yet continues to hammer the likes of Glenn Beck for his daily mantra of a pending doom of Obamacare and a WH take-over of life in America. Meanwhile, it’s not helping PR when the WH requests unsolicited emails (ignoring the Privacy Act of 1974) and in turn receives grief by those opposed to the President ideas receiving David Axelrod love letters in return. Never to be outdone, salvation has come!  Obama Health Care Reform has been reborn (yet) again! Usher in Obama Health Care INSURANCE Reform!

Ah, so the White House was listening even while NBC, MSNBC, NBC, CBS, and ABC were chastising organizations, well dressed town hall attendees, and talk radio for spreading lies and ‘trying to hurt our President’ as Congresswoman, Barbara Boxer (D) proclaimed disgustedly on television recently. Hmmm…The media is playing ‘bad guy’ and the President comes out looking like the ‘good guy’ in this public relations tug of war between citizens and government.

August 8, 2009

http://www.stellalohmann.com

The golden years don’t appear to be so precious when efforts to cut and even ration healthcare to the elderly are on the rise. Imagine working an entire lifetime only to be rewarded by being shut out of life sustaining procedures and treatments just because you have reached a number in years on paper according to guidelines arbitrarily set by government councils or politicians.

Now imagine what would happen if the H1N1 (swine flu) pandemic erupted fully nationwide and worldwide. Ever since the first case was reported in April from Mexico the World Health Organization, the United Nations, and governments have debated what should happen and who should carry the torch. Eyes always seem to stare down the United States to find the way and then fund it. Congress passed and President Obama recently signed a supplemental appropriation for $7.5 billion to cover the costs of preparing for H1N1, including a vaccination campaign.

http://cnsnews.com/public/Content/Article.aspx?rsrcid=51854

The Center for Disease Center in Atlanta was quick to prioritize those who would be the first recipients-children, school age students, pregnant women, those with chronic diseases, and health care providers. According to Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius:  

“School-age children will be a key target population for a pandemic flu vaccine in the fall, and they may be vaccinated at school in a mass campaign not seen since the Salk polio vaccine epidemics of the 1950’s. The federal government should get about 100 million doses of vaccine by mid-October, if the current production by five companies goes as planned. But enough vaccine for wide use by the 120 million people especially vulnerable to the newly emerged strain of H1N1 influenza virus will not be available until later in the fall.”

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/09/AR2009070900353.html

Granted most medical breakthroughs of the past century have emerged from American researchers through tax dollars or grants given. True to American benevolence the knowledge is generously shared and or distributed back not only to those who paid for its discoveries but also the world at large. The elderly paid toward those efforts through hard earned tax dollars just as their parents and grandparents did and so on. Likewise, those vaccines and medicines are flown across the world to disaster areas or plagued peoples in need. So why are seniors at the end of the list now as healthcare and vaccines are portioned by government?

Great pains are being taken ensure vaccines for children are absent of neuron-toxin mercury while adults will still have to use vaccines with thimerosal as a preservative. http://www.fda.gov/BiologicsBloodVaccines/SafetyAvailability/VaccineSafety/UCM096228 So while manufactures work feverishly to meet the flu season deadline and the critical requests worldwide for a vaccine, the elderly ponder what their fate will be?

See also: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/programs/vfc/cdc-vac-price-list.html

By Stella Lohmann  http://www.stellalohmann.com

How much more do we have to hear about this monstrosity of a healthcare bill to get the message? In reality immediate action is basically exchanging symptoms of one system for another set of problems. Not everything is broken in the insurance and healthcare industry. What’s the saying?—don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater. Alternatives to fix or replace the current program are knee-jerk responses. Enough concern has been heard all the way to Washington through diminishing polls that normally favor of the President and the Democrats. Doesn’t conventional wisdom dictate—when in doubt—don’t or at least wait?

During the mid July nationally televised Presidential Press Conference, The Health Care Plan was exposed as no plan at all but rather rhetoric; not even Congress knew what was in the more than 1000 page concoction—just another freight train rolling through Congress with no tickets to ride for the Republicans or Blue Dog Democrats while taxpayers question its cost and destination. [Read more →]